Shloka 24

Arjuna’s Account of Tapas and the Kirāta Test; Revelation of Maheśvara and the Grant of the Pāśupata-Astra

Devanagari script

प्रीयते पार्थ पार्थेन दिवि गाण्डीवधन्चना । सम्यक्‌ चासौ महावीर्य: कुलधुर्येण पार्थिव:,पार्थ! जिन्होंने सब राजाओंको धर्मपूर्वक अपने अधीन कर लिया था, वे महातेजस्वी, महापराक्रमी तथा सदाचारपरायण महाराज शान्तनु, जो तुम्हारे पिताके पितामह थे, स्वर्गलोकमें कुरुकुलधुरीण गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनसे बहुत प्रसन्न रहते हैं

Transliteration

prīyate pārtha pārthena divi gāṇḍīvadhanvanā | samyak cāsau mahāvīryaḥ kuladhuryena pārthivaḥ ||

Translation

Dhanada said: “O Pārtha, in heaven that mighty king—foremost bearer of the Kuru lineage—takes deep delight in Pārtha Arjuna, the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva. He is rightly pleased with you, for your strength is joined to rightful conduct and to the sustaining of your family’s duty.”

Word by Word

• {'prīyate': 'is pleased

• feels delight', 'pārtha': 'son of Pṛthā (address to Arjuna/Yudhiṣṭhira depending on context

• here aligned with Arjuna as Gāṇḍīva-bearer)', 'pārthena': 'by/with Pārtha (Arjuna)', 'divi': 'in heaven

• in the celestial world', 'gāṇḍīva-dhanvanā': 'by the one whose bow is Gāṇḍīva

• the Gāṇḍīva-armed archer (Arjuna)', 'samyak': 'properly

• in accordance with dharma', 'ca': 'and', 'asau': 'that (person), he', 'mahā-vīryaḥ': 'of great valor/power

• very mighty', 'kula-dhuryaḥ': 'foremost in the lineage

• one who bears the burden of the family line', 'pārthivaḥ': 'king

Speaker

धनद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhanada (Kubera)
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Heaven (Svarga)
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True heroism is not mere force: it is strength aligned with samyak—right conduct and dharma—so that one becomes a worthy bearer of the family and social order (kula-dhurya). Such dharmic valor earns even celestial approval.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhanada (Kubera) speaks about Arjuna’s standing in the celestial realm, stating that in heaven a mighty royal ancestor/foremost Kuru figure is pleased with Arjuna, specifically identifying him as the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva.